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Religious tension: Katsina Fedral University Shuts down

Saturday, 3 June 2017

- Federal University in Dutsin-ma in Katsina state has been shut down - The university was shut down over religious tension - Muslim students accused the former Vice Chancellor, James Ayatse, of favoring Christians in filling academic and non-academic vacancies Christians and Muslims are allegedly facing each other in what can be described as religious crises in Katsina. The alleged brewing tension between minority Christians and a larger body of Muslim students have resulted in the closure of the Federal University in Dutsin-ma in Katsina state by the university’s management according to Sahara Reporters We learnt that the crises started on Friday when Islamic students at the university mobilized and protested against Christian employees at the university. Andrew Moses, a security guard at the University, who spoke to Sahara Reporters said that: “We saw strange faces stationed at Academic Department housing the university management staff, including the Vice Chancellor. When we inquired about their mission, they simply said, ‘We are here for jihad against Christians in the university.’” While reacting to the incident, a lecturer at the university who asks not to be mentioned said that the crises has been a long standing one

According to Sahara Reporter's source: “Professor Kaita came to the university with a group of Muslims who threatened to deal with any Christians working here,” referring to the Federal Government-owned university.

He said further that Muslim students backing Mr. Kaita mobilized other Muslims groups from Dutsin-ma town to support their mission of sending the Christians away from the federal university. It was also gathered Samuel Zumve, the interim chairman of the Academic Staff Union of the Universities (ASUU), equally mobilized some Christian students who came together “prepared to defend their Christians fellows in the university.”

Police officers have however been deployed around the university to forestall religious violence in the town and the university. Meanwhile, chairman of the university Senate, Bichi, has ordered immediate closure of the university until normalcy returns.